Marijuana-Good bad or ugly?

Though most of us are well aware of what marijuana, or weed is still I decided to give a formal intro to this plant-

Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant intended for medical or recreational use. The main psychoactive part of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of 483 known compounds found in the in the plant. So itis this THC component what makes the cannabis plant so famous and can make people go crazy for it.

Cannabis sativa grows wild throughout many tropical and humid parts of the world.

The oldest known written record on cannabis use comes from the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2727 B.C. Ancient Greeks and Romans were also familiar with cannabis, while in the Middle East, use spread throughout the Islamic empire to North Africa. In 1545 cannabis spread to the western hemisphere where Spaniards imported it to Chile for its use as fiber. In North America cannabis, in the form of hemp, was grown on many plantations for use in rope, clothing and paper.

Marijuana as an intoxicant-

Marijuana is one of the oldest forms of intoxicants. It’s history can be traced back to the Vedic period. The reason why it was so much popular back than and as well as now is because of its simplicity. Any other form of drug needs some processing which cannot be done easily by any lay man. For example you and I cannot simply go and make cocaine, brown sugar or LSD, these requires expertise and laboratories plus you need to hide well from the law and police, which is not the case with weed or marijuana. It is as simple asgrowingthe cannabis plant in your back yard and harvest its leaves or flowers and seeds just like you will harvest any vegetable. There are several ways you can consume weed to get high receipted of which you will easily find on the Internet or we always have that useful friend.

Marijuana and the vedas-

The earliest mention of cannabis has been found in The Vedas, or sacred Hindu texts. These writings may have been compiled as early as 2000 to 1400 B.C. According to The Vedas, cannabis was one of five sacred plants and a guardian angel lived in its leaves. The Vedas call cannabis a source of happiness, joy-giver,liberator that was compassionately given to humans to help us attain delight and lose fear (Abel, 1980). It releases us from anxiety.

Shiva

The god, Shiva is frequently associated with cannabis, called bhang in India. Shiva is always in an intoxicated state as he has consumed poison and stored it in his neck which otherwise would destroy everything. He lives in the harshest of environment in the lap of snow and mountains of the Himalayas so he and his disciples must consume Bhang or marijuana to tame the pain and agony. Even today his followers known as sadhus indulge in bhang or weed .

During the Middle Ages, thesoldiers often took a drink of bhang before entering the battlefield like modern day soldiers would gulp down whiskey.

Sadhu

Pros

Lot of research is going on to determine the uses of cannabis in treating and preventing various ailments. Few of which I have mentioned below

1. Marijuana slows and stops cancer cells from spreading.

It was found in the study, published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, that Cannabidiol has the ability to stop cancer by turning off a gene called Id-1.

2. Prevents Alzheimer’s.

THC, the active ingredient present in marijuana slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, a 2006 study led by Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute found out.

3. Treats Glaucoma.

Marijuana can be used to treat glaucoma, which increases the pressure in the eyeball, injuring the optic nerve and causing loss of vision. According to National Eye Institute, marijuana lowers the pressure inside the eye, “Studies in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowered intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with glaucoma.”

4. Relieves Arthritis.

In 2011, researchers reported that cannabis reduces pain and inflammation, and promotes sleep, which may help relieve pain and discomfort for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

5. Controls Epileptic seizure.

A 2003 study showed that marijuana use can control epileptic seizure.

Robert J. DeLorenzo, of Virginia Commonwealth University, gave marijuana extract and synthetic marijuana to epileptic rats. The drugs stopped the seizures in about 10 hours. It is found out that the THC controlled the seizures by binding the brain cells responsible for controlling excitability and regulating relaxation. The results were published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

6. Relieves Arthritis.

In 2011, researchers reported that cannabis reduces pain and inflammation, and promotes sleep, which may help relieve pain and discomfort for people with rheumatoid arthritis.

7. Controls Epileptic seizure.

A 2003 study showed that marijuana use can control epileptic seizure. [2]

Robert J. DeLorenzo, of Virginia Commonwealth University, gave marijuana extract and synthetic marijuana to epileptic rats. The drugs stopped the seizures in about 10 hours. It is found out that the THC controlled the seizures by binding the brain cells responsible for controlling excitability and regulating relaxation. The results were published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

8. Soothes tremors for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Recent studies from Israel shows that smoking marijuana remarkably reduces pains and tremors and improves sleep for Parkinson’s disease patients. What was impressive about the research was the improvement of the fine motor skills among patients.

Israel has made medical marijuana legal, and a lot of research into the medical uses of weed is done there, supported by the Israeli Government.

One of the most common uses of medical marijuana is for people going through chemotherapy. Cancer patients going through chemo suffer from severe pains, painful nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. This can lead to further health complications.

Marijuana can help reduce these side effects, reducing pain, decreasing nausea, and stirring up the appetite. Also, there are other FDA approved cannabinoid drugs that use THC, for the same purposes.

10. Helps veterans suffering from PTSD

Marijuana is approved to treat PTSD in some states in America. In New Mexico, PTSD is the number one reason for people to get a license for medical marijuana, but this is the first time U.S. Government’s The Department of Health and Human Services has approved a proposal that incorporates smoked or vaporized marijuana.

Naturally occurring cannabinoids, similar to THC, help control the system that causes fear and anxiety in the body and brain.

11. Controls other types of muscle spasms.

Other types of muscle spasms respond to marijuana too. Another of Dr. Gupta’s patient, Chaz, has a condition called myoclonus diaphragmatic flutter (also known as Leeuwenhoek’s Disease). This causes non stop spasming in the abdominal muscles which are not only painful, but interfere with breathing and speaking. Chaz has been using medical marijuana to treat this disease because other very strong medications were unable to treat him properly.

Smoking marijuana is able to calm to calm the attacks almost immediately, relaxing the mucles of the diaphragm also.

Now let’s look at some of the cons which has resulted into ban on cannabis by alot of governments around the world, even growing this plant in your back yard is illegal.

Cons-

First of all just like all the other intoxicants, cannabis is also highly addictive.

And too sum up all the negative impact on you, it makes you insane. You develop a habit of leading a 2nd false life furled by weed.

Conclusion-

To sum it up in my opinion the good effects of cannabis, or weed still needs lot of research and studies. As of now the ill effects of marijuana farout weighs the positives that it can offer.